Still wild about Tomic

He’s a celebrity and we really do want him here

THE door to Bernard Tomic’s last chance at an Australian Open berth remains open, and tournament organisers have encouraged the Australian to grasp his final opportunity.

Tomic, 25, last month rejected an invitation to Tennis Australia’s wildcard playoff, but as recently as yesterday remained entered in the tournament’s final qualifying event which begins on Wednesday.

It would be the final chance for the world No.140 — who was overlooked for a Tennis Australia wildcard — to win entry to his home grand slam, with the deadline to withdraw from competing tomorrow afternoon.

And Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said yesterday that he would “love” Tomic to play in what he considered to be a winnable event for him at Melbourne Park this week.

“He’s on the qualifying list — he has until Tuesday afternoon to make himself avail- able to play,” Tiley said. “It’s up to him. He can withdraw up until that time. “He hasn’t yet. “Of course, we would love him to play. We want him to play and to have that opportunity. He is good enough to qualify and get into the main draw and the decision is up to him.”

Tomic — who has this week also been rumoured to be keen to accept a hefty appearance fee to appear on Channel 10 reality show I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! — ended his 2017 season in a challenger tour event in Slovakia in November, and is set to play a match against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka at Kooyong tomorrow afternoon.

But his plans beyond tomorrow’s match remain a mystery.

Tiley — who yesterday officially launched the one-week countdown to this year’s Australian Open — said after many years of “asking”, young Australian stars are finally taking the next step.

“What a great run the Auss- ies have had to start the year out,” he said, referencing teenage Brisbane International semi-finalist Alex De Minaur and world No. 21 and finalist in that tournament Nick Kyrgios as two examples.

“We’re excited about the future prospect of Australian players.

“We’ve been asking that for a few years now and we’re at that cusp of the younger players really starting to break through.

“Seeing Nick do what he does is pretty exciting.”